Not all construction materials are treated equally, at least according to a site maintained by the Associated General Contractors, not to mention several published reports.
In looking at the impact that President Trump’s historic tariffs are having on those materials it is noted that copper wires and pipes are generally subject to a 50% tariff.
But earlier this year, the Trump administration agreed to hold off on increasing a tariff for materials from Chile, which has long been a major supplier of refined copper to the U.S.
Similarly, metals and fuels from Brazil have also been exempted from the higher tariffs, accounting for part of the $42.3 billion in exports from that country to the U.S. this year.
What other materials may ultimately be exempted depends upon the success of negotiators from a variety of countries trying to get a better deal. “Countries,” reports the Wall Street Journal, are seeking ways to “muffle the impact on their economies of President Trump’s push to reorder global trade.”
“The diplomatic effort,” continues the paper, “shows months of trade talks are far from over despite the run of agreements trumpeted by the White House in the past month.”
The Associated General Contractors has up and running a Tariff Resource Center for Contractors, while noting “the tariff situation is constantly evolving.”
The AGC Center notes that aluminum and steel from Canada and Mexico are subject to at least a 50% tariff; with increased tariffs on timber and lumber expected to come later this year.
Increased material tariffs in general, notes an announcement from the AGC Center, “carry risks of escalating costs, retaliatory trade measures, while further complicating global supply chains.”
For construction companies, continues the AGC alert, “such policies could lead to stockpiling of materials, reconsideration of contracts, and pricing and scheduling uncertainty.”
As things now stand, notes the Boston Real Estate Times, the new tariffs have “introduced serious doubts across sectors, raising new questions about funding for healthcare infrastructure, the future of federal public works, and supply chain resilience.”
August 11, 2025
By Garry Boulard
Photo courtesy of Unsplash
